Isaiah 58

Isaiah 58Expanded Bible (EXB)

How to Honor God

58 The Lord says, “Shout out loud. Don’t hold back.·Shout out loud [L Raise/lift up your voice] like a trumpet.Tell my people ·what they have done against their God [their transgression];tell ·the family of Jacob about [L Jacob] their sins.2 They ·still come looking for [seek] me ·every day [day to day]and ·want [delight] to learn my ways.They act just like a nation that does ·what is right [righteousness],that ·obeys [L did not forsake/reject] the ·commands [judgments] of its God.They ask me ·to judge them fairly [for righteous judgment].They ·want [delight] to ·be near [draw near to] God.3 They say, ‘·To honor you we had special days when [L Why have…?] we fasted,but you didn’t see.·We humbled ourselves to honor you [L Why have we afflicted our souls/selves…?],but you didn’t notice.’”

But the Lord says, “[L Look; T Behold] You ·do what pleases [satisfy; seek pleasure for] yourselves on these fast days,and you ·are unfair to [exploit; oppress] your workers.4 Even when you fast, you argue and fightand ·hit each other with your [L hit with wicked/sinful] fists.You cannot do these things as you do nowand ·believe your prayers are [expect to be] heard ·in heaven [on high].5 ·This kind of special day is not what [Is this the fast that…?] I ·want [have chosen].·This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done [L Do I want a day when people afflict/mortify themselves?].I don’t want people just to bow their heads like a ·plant [reed]·and wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness [L stretching out on sackcloth and ashes].Is this what you call a fast?·Do you really think this pleases [L …a day acceptable to] the Lord?

6 “I will tell you the kind of fast I ·want [have chosen]:·Free the people you have put in prison unfairly [L Release the chains/bonds of wickedness]and ·undo their chains [or untie the ropes from the yoke].Free ·those to whom you are unfair [the oppressed]and ·stop their hard labor [L break every yoke].7 Share your food with the hungryand bring poor, homeless people into your own homes.When you see someone who has no clothes, ·give him yours [clothe him],and don’t ·refuse to help [L conceal yourself from] your ·own relatives [flesh].8 Then your light will shine like the dawn,and your wounds will quickly heal.Your ·God [L righteousness] will walk before you,and the glory of the Lord[C his manifest presence] will ·protect you from behind [be your rear guard].9 Then you will call out, and the Lord will answer.You will cry out, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

“If you ·stop making trouble for others [L take away the yoke from your midst],if you stop ·using cruel words [speaking wickedness] and pointing your finger at others,10 if you ·feed [L offer your soul/selves to] those who are hungryand ·take care of [satisfy] the needs of ·those who are troubled [the afflicted/oppressed],then your light will ·shine [L rise] in the darkness,and ·you will be bright like sunshine at [L your darkness/gloom like] noon.11 The Lord will always lead you.He will satisfy your ·needs [soul] in dry landsand give strength to your bones.You will be like a garden that is well-watered,like a spring ·that never runs dry [whose waters never fail].12 Your people will rebuild the ·old cities that are now in [L ancient] ruins;you will rebuild their ancient foundations.You will be ·known for repairing [called the repairer of] the broken wallsand ·for rebuilding [the restorer of] the roads and houses.

13 “·You must obey God’s law about [L If you turn your foot away from…; C avoiding Sabbath journeys] the Sabbathand not do what pleases yourselves on that holy day.·You should [L …and if you…] call the Sabbath a ·joyful day [delight]and honor it as the Lord’s holy day.·You should [L …and if you…] honor it by not ·doing whatever you please [L going your own way]nor saying ·whatever you please [idle words] on that day.14 ·Then [L …then] you will find ·joy [delight] in the Lord,and I will ·carry you to [or cause you to ride on] the high places above the earth.I will ·let you eat the crops of the land [L feed you with the inheritance] of your ancestor Jacob.”The ·Lord has said these things [L mouth of the Lord has spoken].

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